I like to think of quietly lobbing an instructor with a pre-solo student up
over a vertical mile at 6AM for 40 minutes of instruction in glassy smooth
air.

This is slightly OT, but... is there an optimal launch height at each
stage of training? For example, a few really high launches at the very
beginning (so that the student has time to practice things like speed
control and turns), and then a lot of standard (~1500ft) launches
(circuit planning and landing)?

Bartek